Angel Mbabazi

What can I say about The reader. I think it’s well written, yes, but also extremely interesting. Michael Berg, a 15 year old falls hopelessly in love with Hanna Schmitz, 36 year old who to his horror leaves him behind too suddenly and completely ensuring a wound that is fresh and doesn’t heal for too many years. It makes you wonder whether Hanna was ever sorry for what she did to Michael or did she acknowledge only her grotesque role in the holocaust. Hanna is guilty, for sure, of many things. For me, her role in the holocaust is unforgivable but my issue is her knowing of how she would impact Michael Berg. She knew the affair would scar and it was not of her concern. It leaves you wondering how much impact certain relationships can have on us for years. As in the words of Michael Berg, “Never to let myself be humiliated or humiliate myself after Hanna, never to take guilt upon myself or feel guilty, never again to love anyone whom it would hurt to lose I didn’t formulate any of this as I thought back then, but I know that’s how I felt.” It’s a good book. I loved it. I pitied Michael Berg as he was a victim of Hanna Schmitz and Hanna Schmitz as she was a victim of circumstance beyond her own making, acceptance and choice.